Corn picker roll adjusting mechanism



July 14, 1953 E. K. KARLssoN 2,645,075

CORN PICKER ROLL ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 16 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 14, 1953 E. K. KARLssoN 2,645,075

CORN PICKER ROLL ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 14, 953

Elof K. Karlsson, Moline, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation ofr- New Jersey Application November 16, 1949, Serial No. 127,599

Corn picking and snapping rolls are as a rule 6 Claims. (Cl. 56--105) used in pairs and are arranged and constructed to rotate inwardly toward each other to pull standing stalks downwardly therethrough. `This Vcauses a snapping -of the ears from the stalks.

It is apparent, therefore, that the spacing between cooperative rolls is a critical factor in the suclcessful picking and snapping of corn. Recently,

provision has been made in certain corn pickers for eiecting roll spacing adjustment by the rather difficult procedure of bolting or otherwise fastenc ing the roll journaling member in one or more of .a plurality of spaced openings or notches, operator of such a corn picker will adjust the The spacing of the rolls to a position which he believes should be proper for maximum efficiency. After .adjusting the rolls once the operator usually does -not attempt another adjustment that day `alfthough the condition of the corn being picked might greatly change throughout the day and in `diiferent sections of the eld, but the'effort necessary to readjust the rolls and then possibly have them adjusted in the wrong direction is too great and the picker therefore is used with its initial ,adjustment regardless of its eiciency.

It is therefore a principal object of this inven-l tion to-provide means closely adjacent the operator of a corn picker for varying the spacing loetween cooperative picking and snapping rolls.

An important object of this invention is the provision of means in a corn picker for quickly and veasily varying the spacing between cooperative .picking rolls throughout a considerable range to compensate for variations in the condition of corn being picked and to relieve the jamming of a picker of slugs of stalks.

`Another important object of this invention is .to permit the operator of a corn picker to Vadjust the rolls thereof while the machine is iny operation and thus immediately determine whether the adjusted position of the rolls is picking and snapping the corn with the desired eihciency.

Another and further important object of this jinvention is to supply a two-row corn picker with amount in opposite directions so that the roll spacing of the spaced cooperative rolls is uniform.

Another and still further important object of this invention lies in the provision of spring means for normally urging corn picking rolls toward their maximum spacing and means for concurrentlyr adjusting spaced cooperative rolls for operation against the action of the spring means. Y c A still further object isto supply single adjustment means for spaced cooperative picking 4and snapping rolls which automatically compensates for the change in spacing between the spaced cooperative'rolls. l Y p Other and further important objects of this invention will ibecome apparent from the disclosures in the following specication and accompanying drawings. y ,c

Inthedrawings: 4 c `Fig. 1 is atop plan vi'ewnof a' two-row corn rpicker incorporating the roll spacing mechanism of thisinvention.r y i Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlargedv detail plan view with parts broken away and shown insection of the roll spacing mechanism. *Y j Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 oflFig..2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional ViewI taken Ofrigan- As shown in the drawings,the`reference numeral I0' indicates generally a tractor having a narrow,longitudinally-extending engine or chassisp'ortion II, anioperators seat I2 atthe rearwardend of thechassis, and spaced large traction Wheels I3 and I4 carried on axles I5 and I6 which fin turnare supported in axlehousings yI 'I andIS extending laterally outwardly from A the rearward lend of the tractor chassis II adjacent the operators seatlZ.` j i I A two-*row corn picker I9 isVp-rovided with a iirst picking unit 20 and a second picking unit 2I disposed longitudinally of the tractor adjacent each side of the engine and chassis. Thepicking unit 20 islocated between the tractor chassisA II and the spaced large traction wheel I3 and the pickingfunit 2I is similarly located between the chassisII and the large traction wheel I4. Thus'the 'machine on which the roll spacing mechanism is mounted in this illustration is a tractor mounted. corn picker,v but it should be understood 'thatv the roll spacing mechanism will operate equally as effectively on a pullty'pe corn picker.

" Each of th'e" corn gathering units is provided with a pair o f cooperative'rolls 22 and 23 respectivel'yTTAs 'shown in Fig. 1 thecooperative rolls 22 lie in the back of a throat formed by a' center VThereafter the cooperative rolls which are driven inwardly toward eachother cause the stalk to be lfed downwardly therebetween; the earsr snapped therefrom, and the snapped ears carried rear- Wardly and discharged from the machine through wagon loading elevators 29 and 30 extending rearwardly from the corn picker units 20 and 2| respectively,

The complete cooperative rolls 2 2 are designated by the numerals 3| and 32. The upper and rearward ends of the rolls 3| and 32 are equipped with spur gears 33 and 34 which interengage and cause the rolls to be driven in opposite directions. The outer roll 3| is fixedly journaled at 35 and 36 whereas the inner roll 32 is hinged at 31 in a bracket support 38. The hinge 31 consists of merely a loose journalling of the roll 32 in the bracket 38. Thus the inner roll 32 may have its lower forward portion swung about the loose journal hinge 31 away from the outer roll 3|.' I t should be realized that considerable movement at the bottom forward end of the roll results only in slight movement at the upper rear end of the roll and for that reason the loose journal provides adequate hinging.

Similarly, the spaced complete cooperative rolls 23 are designated by the numerals 39 and 4|). -The `outer roll 39 is carried in a stationary journal 4| at its upper rearward end and in a stationary journal 42 at its lower forward end. The inner roll 40 similar to thhe inner 'roll 32 is mounted for hinged movementV at 43 by means of a loose journalling at its upper end and thus the forward lower end may be swung about the loose journal hinge 43 to effect variation in spacing between the outer and inner rolls 39 and 40. The rolls 39 and 40 are provided with spur gears 44 and 45 which mesh with each other to provide drive between the rolls in an opposite direction.

The roll spacing mechanism of this invention is designated by the numeral 46.. Link means 41 is attached at its forward end to the roll adjusting mechanism and projects rearwardly for enla gagement with a hand lever 48 disposed adjacent the operators seat |2 whereby the operator may adjust the spacing of the rolls during the operation of the corn picker without leaving his seat.

The roll spacing mechanism is shown in detail in Fig. 2. The inner roll 32 of the pair of cooperative rolls 22 is provided with an end journal member 49. This member includes arpin 50 engaging the end of the roll 32 and a stalk guiding curved point which is designed to direct standing stalks of corn into the throat 21 to the space between rolls 3| and 32. A lateral shifting of the journal member 49 will effect swinging movement of the roll 32 about its hinge 31 at the upper end thereof. A supporting structure 52 constitutes a part of the framework of thecorn picking mechanisms 2U and 2|. A sleeve-like bearing 53 having an outwardly extending annular fia-nge 54 is bolted to the supporting structure 52 at 55 and 56. A lateral extension or sleeve 51 of the journal member 49 slidably engages the sleeve portion of the member 53. The sleeve member 53 is duplicated on the other side of the corn picker as shown at 58 and the member 58 similarly receives for sliding movement an extension or sleeve V59 of a journal 59a of the inner roll 4D of the pair of cooperative rolls 23.

A shaft structure 60 is transversely positioned across the corn picker between the pairs of spaced cooperative rolls. A first part 60a of the shaft structure 6D is positioned adjacent the roll 32. A sleeve 62 is riveted as shown at 83 to the inner end of the shaft part 60a. The link mechanism 41 engages the collar or sleeve 62 for effecting its rotation. This mechanism is best shown in Fig.

3. The outer end of the shaft part 60a is provided with a cross pin 64 having radially extending end portions 65 and 6B which are adapted to engage a spiral or helical slot 61 in the lateral sleeve extension 51 of the journal 49. Rotation of the sleeve 62 thus causes a concurrent rotation of the "fcross pin 64 and a sliding movement of the sleeve extension 51 within the sleeve 53 of the supporting structure 52. The pin 64 and cooperative heliing annular flange 18 forming the end of the stationary sleeve member 53. A spring 1| surrounding the shaft 60 is disposed between a washer 12 abutting the ange 10 and a washer 13 abutting one end of the sleeve 62. The spring is adapted to exert a longitudinal force on the shaft part 60a, thus maintaining it in relatively fixed lateral position while rotation thereof will cause relative longitudinal movement of the journal extension 51 and thus a spacing of the roll 32 with respect to the roll 3|. The spring 1| thusV arranged tends to keep the cross pin 64 in the one end of the slot 61 constituting the minimum spacing between the rolls 3| and 32.

A second part 6I of the shaft structure 6D is in axial alignment with the first shaft part 60a. One end Gla of the second shaft part 6| is circular in cross section and is received in the sleeve 62 and caused to be rotatable therewith by a removable pin 53a. 'I'he other end SIb of the second shaft part 6| is square in cross section and is adapted to telescope a similarly squared sleeve 14 so that rotation applied to the sleeve 62 Will be imparted to the sleeve 14. It should be apparent that the cross-sectional shape of the portion 3 Ib and the sleeve 14 may be any type whichwill permit separate longitudinal sliding and concurrent rotational drive. For the purpose of convenience this shape will be called a polygonal shape. rI'he sleeve 14 is welded at 15 to a bellshaped housing 16 enclosing a shaft part 11 corresponding to the shaft part 60a on the opposite side of the corn picking machine. The shaft part 11 is fastened for joint rotation to the bell housing 16 by means of a cross pin or rivet 18. A spring 19 corresponds to the spring 1| and is positioned between a washer abutting the end of the housing 16 and a washer 8| which abuts the internal 'annular iiange 82 of the stationary sleeve housing 58. An annular collar or fiange 83 is Welded at 84 to the shaft part 11 and limits movement of the shaft part 11 in a direction toward the opposite side of the picker. The journal extension Amember 59- is adapted for sliding movement within the stationary sleeve 58 and the shaft part 11 telescopes the sleeve extension 59 in the same manner as the first shaft part 60a telescoped the sleeve extension 51. A cross pin 86 is mounted in the shaft part 11 and has radial extensions 81 and 88 which engage a spiral slot 89 formed internally of the sleeve extension 59. Here again the pin 88 and cooperative spiral slot are in fact thread means in order to obtain rela.- tive longitudinal movement of the parts., The pitch vor direction of inclination of the spira-l slot 89 is equal and opposite in direction from the spiral or helical slot 61, thus insuring that the inner rolls 32 and 40 will be moved an equal amount in opposite directions so that the roll spacings are the same at all times. All of the several shaft parts and sleeves are jointly termed a shaft structure 60.

In operation, an operator sits on the seat I2 of the tractor-mounted corn picker and drives his machine forwardly through a field of standing corn. If the operator discovers that the picking and snapping rolls are not performing an efficient job of downward stalk feeding and ear snapping, he moves the handle 48 which imparts rotation to the sleeve 62 andas illustrated in Fig. 2 the first extension sleeve 51 will be moved laterally outwardly within the Vstationary sleeve housing 53, thus making more space between the rolls 3| and 32. Similarly, when the sleeve V62 is rotated, the shaft part 11 is likewise rotated through the driving connection of the polygonshaped end Glb of the shaft part BI engaging the corresponding polygonal-shaped sleeve 14 and by reason of the cross pin 86 engaging the helical slot 89 the journal 59a of the roll 40 will be moved toward the center of the tractor in an amount equal to that of the inner roll 32 of the first set of cooperative rolls 22. In view of the fact that the inner rolls 32 and 40 must move inwardly toward each other or outwardly away from each other, it is essential that the length of the operating shaft be capable of expansion and contraction. This required variation in length is automatically accomplished by the telescoping of the square shaft part Bib with the square sleeve 14.

It will therefore be seen that here is provided a simple and easily operative mechanism for effecting lateral adjustment of the inner rolls of spaced cooperative rolls in a two-row corn picker in such a manner that a single operating lever will suflice for the spacing of both sets of rolls and the variation in length occasioned by the spacings of the individual cooperative rolls is automatically accomplished. Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Lateral adjustment mechanism for corn picker rolls comprising a generally longitudinally extending supporting structure, cooperative picker rolls longitudinally disposed and carried on said supporting structure and adapted to be rotatably driven from one end thereof, one of said rolls hinged for lateral swinging movement about one end thereof, a journal support for the other end of the hinged roll, means operatively associated with said journal support adjustably positioning said journal support with respect to said supporting structure for moving that end of the roll toward or away from its cooperative roll, 'said means including a shaft transversely disposed and carried in said supporting structure, hand lever means for rotating said shaft, said journal support having a sleeve associated therewith and extending laterally and transversely therefrom, said shaft telescoping said sleeve, and -thread means interposed between said shaft and sleeve to effect adjustable separation upon rotation of said shaft whereby the hinged roll may be laterally adjusted.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which'the thread means interposed between the shaft and sleeve comprises a radially extending pin in the shaft, and said sleeve having a helical slot for reception of said pin.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which spring means normally urges the sleeve toward 6 its maximum telescoped position with respect to said shaft.

4. Lateral adjustment mechanism for corn pickerrolls comprising la generally longitudinally extending supporting structure, a first pair of cooperative picker rolls longitudinally disposed and carried on said supporting structure and adapted to be rotatably driven from one end thereof, one of said rolls hinged for lateral swinging movement about its driven end, a journal support for the other end of the hinged roll, means operatively associated with said journal support adjustably positioning said journal support with respect to said supporting structure,

for moving that end of the roll toward or away from its cooperative roll, said means including a shaft transversely disposed and carried in said supporting structure, hand lever means for rotating said shaft, said journal support having a sleeve associated therewith and extending later# ally and transversely therefrom, said shaft telescoping said sleeve, and thread means interposed between said shaft and sleeve to effect adjustable separation upon rotation of said shaft whereby the hinged roll may be laterally adjusted, a second pair of cooperative picker rolls spaced from the first pair of cooperative picker rolls and adapted to be rotatably driven from one end thereof, one roll of the second pair of spaced apart cooperative picker rolls hinged for lateral swinging movement about its driven end on said supporting structure, said shaft having a portion extending toward said hinged roll of the second pair of cooperative picker rolls, a journal support for the end opposite the hinge of the hinged roll of the second pair of rolls, said last named journal support adjustably positioned with respect to said supporting structure for moving that end of the roll toward or away from its cooperative roll, said shaft portion having a polygonal cross section, la sleeve shaft of corresponding polygonal cross section shape as the shaft portion for telescopically receiving said shaft portion to permit relative 1ongitudinal movement and provide for concurrent rotational movement, a shaft part xed to said polygonal sleeve, a sleeve formed integrally with the journal support of the hinged roll of the spaced apart second pair of cooperative picker rolls, and thread means interposed between the shaft part and the sleeve of the hinged roll of the spaced apart second pair of cooperative picker rolls whereby the rolls may be simultaneously adjusted in an equal and opposite direction by rotational movement of the single hand lever and may obtain automatic compensation for change in roll spacing by the intermediate positioned telescopic portion of the shaft portion.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which both interposed thread means comprise radially extending shaft pins and the sleeves having helical slots for receiving said pins.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which spring means is provided to normally maintain minimum roll separation.

ELOF K. KARLSSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number vName Date 934,688 Mueller et al. Sept. 21, 1909 1,016,750 King Feb. 6, 1912 1,160,777 Small Nov. 16, 1915 2,004,711 Thieman June 11, 1935 

